Will the world's oldest leader retain his position and attract a country of young voters?

This world's oldest leader - nonagenarian Paul Biya - has assured Cameroon's voters "the best is still to come" as he seeks his eighth consecutive presidential term this weekend.

The nonagenarian has remained in office for over four decades - another seven-year mandate could extend his reign for 50 years reaching almost 100.

Election Controversies

He ignored broad demands to resign and faced criticism for making merely one public appearance, using the majority of the campaign period on a ten-day unofficial journey to the European continent.

Criticism over his reliance on an computer-generated campaign video, as his challengers actively wooed voters directly, saw him rush north after coming back.

Young Population and Joblessness

This indicates for the great bulk of the citizenry, Biya remains the sole leader they experienced - over sixty percent of Cameroon's thirty million inhabitants are below the 25 years old.

Youthful campaigner Marie Flore Mboussi strongly desires "fresh leadership" as she maintains "longevity in power inevitably leads to a type of laziness".

"After 43 years, the people are tired," she states.

Employment challenges for youth remains a notable issue of concern for most of the contenders participating in the vote.

Approximately forty percent of youthful citizens between 15 and 35 are unemployed, with twenty-three percent of recent graduates experiencing problems in finding official jobs.

Opposition Contenders

Beyond youth unemployment, the voting procedure has created dispute, notably concerning the removal of a political rival from the presidential race.

His exclusion, upheld by the legal authority, was generally denounced as a strategy to stop any serious competition to the current leader.

Twelve aspirants were authorized to contest for the leadership position, including Issa Tchiroma Bakary and another former ally - both previous Biya colleagues from the northern region of the nation.

Voting Challenges

In Cameroon's Anglophone Northwest and South-West regions, where a long-running insurgency persists, an voting prohibition closure has been established, halting economic functions, movement and education.

The separatists who have imposed it have threatened to harm anyone who casts a ballot.

Since 2017, those working toward a independent territory have been battling state security.

The fighting has until now caused the deaths of at least 6,000 individuals and compelled nearly half a million others from their residences.

Vote Outcome

After Sunday's vote, the legal body has 15 days to declare the findings.

The interior minister has previously cautioned that no candidate is authorized to announce winning in advance.

"Individuals who will seek to declare outcomes of the political race or any self-proclaimed victory contrary to the rules of the nation would have violated boundaries and must prepare to encounter consequences appropriate for their violation."